Study: Because of humans, wildfires are burning more homes

In the Western U.S., 30% more land burned in wildfires in the 11 years from 2010 to 2020 than burned in the previous 11 years, 1999–2009. But between those same two periods, the number of structures burned by wildfires increased nearly 250%. So, while wildfires burned somewhat more land, they burned a whole lot more homes and outbuildings. That meant that the structure-loss rate, or the average of how many structures were lost per area burned, increased from 1.3 structures per 4 square miles burned to 3.4 structures per 4 square miles burned. That outpaced not just the increase in wildfires in the West, but also the 40% increase in homes. Human-caused fires drove the accelerated destruction of property: Three-quarters of the fires that destroyed structures were started by humans.